Flying During the Holidays

As the holidays roll around each year, people all over the world get busy decorating, buying gifts and getting in the holiday spirit. For those who live far from their families, making travel arrangements is also on the agenda. However, because so many people travel during the holidays (especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas), booking plane tickets, going to the airports and/or driving long distances inevitably means that holiday travelers have to deal with heavy traffic, irritable people and long delays.

If you are planning to travel this holiday season, read up on our tips for holiday traveling to save time and reduce your stress as you make your way home for the holidays.

Holiday Travel Tips for Flying

If you are among the millions of people flying this holiday season, here are some tips for making your travel experience as painless as possible:

• Avoid traveling on peak days: Peak days refer to the busiest travel days, such as the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. If possible, fly out earlier and fly back later. In addition to these non-peak days offering cheaper flights, they also tend to be less hectic at the airports, which means fewer delays and flight cancellations.
• Buy your ticket early: While this may seem like an obvious tip, it can be easy to forget with the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Try to book your flight (and hotel and rental car, if necessary) up to six weeks in advance of your travel dates. Not only will booking early save you money (as prices increase the closer the holidays get), but it will also ensure that you get the precise flight and other arrangements you prefer.
• Check in early: Because airlines can overbook flights, checking in for your flight as early as possible is key to making sure that you aren''t bumped off your flight. Try to arrive about three hours before your flight to ensure that you check in early.
• Follow airport regulations: Be sure that you understand and follow airport security measures. For example, if you are traveling with a carry-on, you can bring only three ounces of any liquid (i.e., shampoo, lotion, etc.), all of which must be encased in a separate plastic bag.Similarly, keep in mind that no wrapped boxes will be allowed through security. As a result, don''t waste time wrapping carry-on presents, as security will make you unwrap them or discard them.
• Have someone drop you off at the airport: Whether you enlist the help of a friend or hire a shuttle driver, getting dropped off at the airport will save you the time and money it costs to park. If, however, you can''t find a ride, be sure that you don''t leave anything valuable in your car while you are away. Similarly, try to keep jumper cables in your car, should your battery die while you are gone.
• Pack light: Try to pack what you will need in an acceptable carry-on bag. Avoid bringing extraneous items, such as things you know your destination will already have (i.e., a hair dryer, curling iron, etc.).Keep in mind, however, to stay within the confines of airport regulations. If your carry-on is too large (or if all of the carry-on space is full), flight attendants will have to check your bag, costing you time at your destination.
• Send gifts in advance: To help with light packing and to avoid breaking any gifts, consider sending them to your destination ahead of time. Many retailers offer free, reliable shipping during the holidays.

The best tip, perhaps, is to be prepared for delays. Bring books, music and whatever else will keep you entertained for a few hours. With all of the people traveling, delays are highly likely. Try to stay as optimistic and be as patient as possible.

Holiday Travel Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about holiday traveling:

• About 91 percent of people traveling during the holidays drive (either their own car or a rented car).
• More people travel on Thanksgiving Day itself, rather than the Wednesday before.
• Only about 6 percent of people fly when traveling during the holidays.
• Over 99 percent of Thanksgiving travelers go to domestic locations. On Christmas, about 97 percent of travel is to domestic locations.

Keeping Your Home Safe While You''re Away

Now that you know how to make your holiday travel as efficient and stress-free as possible, be sure that you make special arrangements for the safety of your home before going on your trip. Here are some tips for taking care of your home (and pets, if you have them) while you are away for the holidays:

• Activate your alarm system (if you have one). Only give the code to people you have authorized to be in your home while you are away. Also, be sure to alert the alarm system management company that you will be away.
• Ask a neighbor or friend to collect your mail and newspapers.
• Draw any curtains or blinds in first-floor rooms so that passersby can''t easily see that no one is home. Similarly, make sure your garage door is closed.
• Put a few outdoor and indoor lights on timers, so that your house appears to be occupied during the night hours.
• Take your pets to a boarder to make sure that they receive the proper care while you are gone. Alternatively, you can hire a pet sitter or ask a friend to stop by your house to feed, play with and clean up after your pets.

Resources

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (n.d.). US Holiday Travel. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from the BTS Web site: http://www.bts.gov/publications/america_on_the_go/us_holiday

_travel/html/entire.html.

TravelSense (n.d.). Holiday Travel Tips. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from the TravelSense Web site: http://www.travelsense.org/tips/holidaytravel.asp.